Witt, Manley hold on-ice reunion

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) - As Katarina Witt took the ice in blue jeans and a brown jacket, Elizabeth Manley playfully sank to her knees and did several "I'm Not Worthy" bows in the direction of her former rival.

Some 22 years since competing at the Calgary Games, and with the Winter Olympics back on Canadian soil, the two figure skaters turned television broadcasters were reunited Sunday on the ice of a small outdoor rink in downtown Vancouver.

"This brings back great memories," Manley said. "And just to be here with Katarina, it's great. It makes us feel young again; it's wonderful."

In 1988, Witt, of Germany, won her second consecutive gold medal by nudging out the Canadian Manley. But with no medals on the line Sunday, Witt and Manley had simple objectives for their 15-minute performance in front of a crowd of about 1,000.

"I hope I don't fall," Manley said, laughing, as she broke into a near-perfect spin.

Witt — though a little unsteady on the ice at first — easily matched Manley's spin, but there was no talk of a rematch.

"No, no, no, no, no, no," Witt said.

"Not at our age!" exclaimed the 44-year-old Manley, the crowd favorite.

The two are in town preparing for the Vancouver Games, which open Friday, the first time the Olympics have returned to Canada since Calgary.

Manley took the ice first to warm up the partisan Canadian crowd, and then introduced Witt, who was being filmed for a feature to be broadcast on Germany's ARD. Witt immediately skated to Manley, where the two hugged at center ice. After exchanging a few smiles, they held hands to take a few turns around the covered rink on a chilly, drizzly morning. Both were then joined by a group of young figure skaters from a suburban Vancouver club.

Looking ahead to the women's figure skating competition, Witt and Manley declined to make any predictions. Kim Yu-na, of South Korea, and Japanese skaters Mao Asada and Miki Ando are considered the favorites.